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MAY 2009

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Greetings from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. If you are looking for maximum recreation opportunities at minimum prices this spring and summer, often for FREE, check out these listings and visit www.parkandrec.com for many more!

Bark in the Park calls attention to our five dog parks.

HUGE TURNOUT FOR BARK IN THE PARK AT NEW LOCATION; BASSET HOUND BRENTSON WINS TOP DOG PHOTO CONTEST

An estimated 14,500 people, most with dogs, came to the 2009 Pedigree® Bark in the Park Dog Festival presented by Food Lion on Sat. April 25. The new location at Metrolin a Expo on Stateville Ave. was a huge success with plenty of parking and plenty of space for "dogs and the people they own." Attendance set a new record! Many dogs participated in contests such as Pet/Owner Look-a-Like, Best Bark, and Best Trick. Competitions included Frisbee catching and freestyle routines. A 3-year-old Basset Hound named Brentson, with sad eyes and long ears, was runaway winner in the Top Dog Photo Contest. Brentson's picture will be on the logo for 2010 dog festival!

SPECIAL TWO-FOR-ONE WEEKS OFFERED IN HARD ECONOMY AT PARK AND REC'S 'YES WE CAN!' TEEN SUMMER CAMPS AT SIX VENUES!

Sign-up now for Park and Recreation's "Yes We Can!" Teen Summer Camps for ages 12–15, Mondays-Fridays, 8am–5pm, Jun. 22–Aug. 14. Attend any number of weeks. New two-for-one special price helps families in a tough economy! Day camps focus on self-esteem and social skills. Camps include speakers, team building, college tours, entrepreneur workshops, visual and performing arts, learning projects, culinary arts, sports, trips, etc. Cost: $55 a week, get second week FREE! Camps will be held at Amay James Recreation Center, Phillip O. Berry Recreation Center, St. Paul "Ray of Hope" Center, Methodist Home Recreation Center, West Charlotte Recreation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. School Site. Register at recreation centers or click here to register online . Registration deadline is June 5. For more information call 311 or 704 432-1341.

Kids love to play in Park and Rec spraygrounds, think they're real cool!

PARK AND REC SPRAYGROUNDS AND POOLS OPEN IN MAY. COOL FUN FOR HOT WEATHER!

Park and Rec's five "spraygrounds" open for the summer season Friday, May 15, 2009. They will be open seven days a week, 10am-8pm. Spraygrounds are FREE! The opening is just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. Spraygrounds offer water sprays, nozzles and spouts for children (and adults) to frolic under. Spraygrounds venues are in: Nevin Park,, Cordelia Park, Latta Park, Veterans Park , and at West Charlotte Recreation Center Park click here for more details. Park and Rec's two outdoor pools, Cordelia and Double Oaks, open May 23, the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The pools offer a great bargain again this—swimming for only a dollar a day! They also offer FREE swim lessons many mornings. Click here for more information including pool hours and addresses.

NEW KICKBALL PROGRAM OFFERS GREAT CHANCE FOR FATHERS AND YOUNGSTERS TO PLAY TOGETHER

Dads and Kids Kickball" at Park Road Park, begins May 16. This fun new recreation program is sponsored by Coca-Cola. The sponsorship means Park and Rec can present it to Dads and Kids for FREE! Kids must be ages 6-12. We expect many will want to play. A kickoff program to get everyone interested is Sat. May 2, from 2-6pm at Park Road Park. Everyone is invited. For more information , click here.

Dragon boats have 22 person crews and really move fast when everyone is pulling the oars.

Park and Rec joins with the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce to present 10th annual Asian Festival and 4th annual Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival on Sat., May 16, 11am-4pm, at Ramsey Creek Park.on Lake Norman. Admission is FREE. Festivals include competitive dragon boat races as teams represent many groups. Dragon dance features a giant, dragon's head with long trailers carried by many marchers. Other componants: Miss Asian Festival pageant, Asian cultural performances, music, dance, crafts, and Asian food. FREE parking available at Kenton Place (at old Palace Cinema), 17220 West Catawba Ave. with shuttles to and from park, 7am–5pm. For more info contact Stephanie Frisbee: 704-432-1157 or click here.

FOR FAMILIES LOOKING FOR A FUN EVENT FOR FREE, ALBEMARLE ROAD RECREATION CENTER PRESENTS NEW MOVIE AND FUN SERIES 'ON THE GREEN"

Albemarle Road Recreation Center announces a series of events in May called "Charlotte East on the Green." The events are on May 12, 15 and 29 and will include movies, magic, music, wrestling, and gospel singing. Each session has FREE entertainment! Bring a lawn chair and blanket and join us on the front lawn of the rec center. Bring a picnic dinner! On the Green shows are 5pm-9pm. Popcorn during the movies is even FREE! Albemarle Road Recreation Center announces a series of events in May called "Charlotte East on the Green." The events are on May 12, 15 and 29 and will include movies, magic, music, wrestling, and gospel singing. Each session has FREE entertainment! Bring a lawn chair and blanket and join us on the front lawn of the rec center. Bring a picnic dinner! On the Green shows are 5pm-9pm. Popcorn during the movies is even FREE! click here for more information and names of movies.

Kayak polo is not a game for the timid. It offers plenty of action and excitement!

PUBLIC INVITED TO WATCH 'KAYAK POLO' TOURNAMENT AT MCDOWELL NATURE PRESERVE ON LAKE WYLIE MAY 2-3

Carolina Kayak Polo Club hosts the Carolina Spring Regional Tournament for Kayak Polo at McDowell Nature Preserve, Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3. This is presented on Lake Wylie in partnership with Park and Recreation Department. At least five teams are expected to compete,with 30-40 players. Kayak Polo is an exciting, fast pace team game, kind of like expected from across eastern North America. Kayak Polo soccer or hockey, but played on water in kayaks! Tournament games will run from 2pm 'til dusk on Saturday. Play on Sunday runs 8am-1pm. Spectators can watch for FREE.

FOR FITNESS AND TO FEEL BETTER, TRY YOGA OR TAI CHI; CLASSES NOW AVAILABLE AT MECKLENBURG PARK AND REC!

SPECIAL DAY CAMP OFFERED FOR YOUNGSTERS WHO WANT TO LEARN FROM THE BEST ABOUT HOW BEST TO PLAY TACKLE FOOTBALL

For young football players (ages 7-15) to learn about tackle football, sign up now for "full contact football camp" June 23-26. Park and Rec teams with Game Day Sports to present this camp at William R Davie park, 4635 Matthews-Pineville Road. Coaches are from area colleges and/or are former NFL players! Lots of one on one instruction. Whole teams welcome to participate. Lunch and snacks provided each day. Cost is $225 per camper.

STEP TEAMS SHOWCASE THEIR SOUL AND SPIRIT AT 'MECK STEPPERS STEP INTO SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS' MAY 31

Park and Rec sponsors "Meck Steppers Countywide Annual Step into Spring Championships" on Sunday, May 31, 2pm-7pm in Grady Cole Center. Admission: $5 or $4 with donation canned food for Second Harvest Food Bank. Step teams are invited to "step-up" and compete from recreation centers, community groups, churches, schools and colleges. Participants may range in age from youngsters (as young as 4 years) to adults of any age. Teams may be all male, all female, or co-ed steppers. Competition promises soul, movement, foot stomping, hand-clapping, stunts, history and culture!

BRING YOUR GREEN THUMB OR QUEST FOR ADVICE TO THE MASTER GARDENERS PLANT SALES MAY 2 AND 9OFFERING MANY UNUSUAL VARIETIES

Master Gardeners of Mecklenburg County Cooperative Extension Service offer a wide selection of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees at this year's spring plant sales:

Saturday, May 9: 7am-1pm at the Matthews Farmers Market on North Trade St., Matthews.

Plants for sale are propagated from the gardens of Master Gardeners. With low prices and wide selection, including unusual varieties, this is a great sale for anyone who loves gardening. Prices range from $2-$20 a plant. Proceeds support an annual horticulture scholarship at CPCC. For more information contact Plant Sale Chair Shannon Stober, at sbstober@gmail.com or Scott Ewers, Extension Horticulture Agent at or 704 336-4008 or scott_ewers@ncsu.edu.

E-PLANT TIPS FOR WINTER FROM THE NC COOPERATVE EXTENSION SERVICE

In Mecklenburg County the Cooperative Extension Service is part of Park and Recreation and offers the tips for gardeners. Be on the lookout for these pests this spring:

Lace bugs on azalea, rhododendron, sycamore, broad-leaved evergreens, and many deciduous trees and shrubs. Signs of infestation are white specks on topside of leaf and black spots on underside of leaf.

Eastern tent caterpillars on black cherry, chokecherry and apple are favored; also feeds on hawthorn, pear, plum, and flowering fruits.

Black vine weevils on hemlock, yew, rhododendron and other broad-leaved evergreens. The larval form is destructive on these evergreens. Adults and larvae will sometimes feed on strawberry and impatiens.

Call Extension at 704-336-4011 for control recommendations

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT PARK AND RECREATION; COME HELP US WITH MANY EVENTS

For information on volunteering for any of these programs contact: Lori Saylor at 704 336-5478 or lori.saylor@mecklenburgcountync.gov. NOTE: Volunteers younger than age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers for Therapeutic Recreation (TR) must be at least 18. Join the fun. Volunteer for any of the following:

Girls Club at Greenville Recreation Center, Mondays 5:30pm–6:30pm. This is an outreach program for young girls in the community, ages 7-18. assistence needed.